REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF TRAVELERS CHECKS USED IN THE PROTECTION OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS ADVANCED TO INDIVIDUALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00755R000100100001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 8, 1952
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2001/09/-08
INFORMATION
on
*OGC Has Reviewed*
-RDP81-00755R000100100001-2
1952
esment for the Cost of Travel Checks Used in the
ion of Government !'unde Advanced to individuals
Dpitos map to Comptrolier dated ii October 1951
Finance Division's memo to ComptrcUer dated 12 Novem/ler 1951
Goseptrolleet memo to ri-Vi dated 19 Novi/Mbar 1951
(4) Comptroller's memo to General Counsel dated 26 November 1951
(5) General Counsel's memo to Gomptroller dated 11 March 1952
In at e references 1 through 5 above, the question of adequately
protecting Uovernment funds advanced 'ndlviduals was discussed, particularly
as it related to the recent case of an employes who lost, or had stolen, the
sum oft750.00 advanced to him. As an outgrowth of the *SAO' the Finance
Division prepared a memorandum to the uomptroller, dated 12 November 1951, out.'
lining steps taken to protect Government funds. The memorandum recommended the
purchase of travelers checks at Government empense as the best method of protect-
ing Government funds. In a memorandum dated 11 Marsh 1952, the Office of the
General Couneel indicated that It would be legally objectionable to autheriee
payment from Agency funds of the fee for the purchase of travelers cheeks
without regard to the actual end us* e the obecke. he further advised that
reimburaement of travelers checks used for travel emptiness was barred by a
Comptroller Generel'a decision. However, the Finance Division continues to
fool that travelers cheoks, or eimilar instruments, offer the most practical
and economical MOORS of affording protection for Government funds advanced to
individuals and feels that they should be used wherever deemed possible.
2. Accordingly., the following points releting to the use of travelers
checks are brought to your attention:
a. The situation of our emploottes and agents is materially d!',ff rent
the situation of employees traveling for other Government agenc,es,
at agencies, all transportatIon Is purchased by the department con-
arced prior to the departure of the employee, or is purches.d for him
enrouto by the various embassies, consulates, or other offices through
which he passes. Where such a procedure is not feasible, the traveler
is given a book or transportation requests and an identification card
with which he may procure transportation almost anywhere in the world.
Tboa traveler Axis as he travels, subset partial claims for per diem at
each post and thus is seldom out of pocket for more than a few days.
per diem expenses. Thus there is no occasion for large advances and
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45 dor to dor oxpooloo us traveler
ion of his own foods just as he
eta
is net evoke an emergeney
ry 'arm sues for eontingencl
and thus frequently cannot, and
cash personal checks. Sometimes advances
t be carried* Most countries of the
s either impossible, due to regu.
s of cash, or it would attract
so. To fail to declare large
to severe penalties. Thus the
personal funds for travelers
efts
It
lations (paraapb
cashing United State eeeermmon
of empenses incurred for travel
I! isomg1 monthly for reiMbursement
gee cover
or drafts
countries.
ortation and
Travel eg
fees for
reimbursement
Such *hocks
per diem
empeommisould Obviate the necessity for sewing travelers checks in
many CMOS, since they would provide both security for the funds and
negotiable dollar instruments.
Also, Section 79 of the $tandsrdtssd Government Travel Regulap
provides that "Miecellaneous expend tures, not &numerated
n necessarily incurred b7 the traveler in connection with the
of official business, will be allowed when approved by the
official". It is submitted for your consideration that
traveltrs checks, necessitated by Agenoy procedures, for
tranmportatton and in meeting other necessary travel
uarelf wAnin the category of *expenditures incurred
'with the transaction of official business". It is
adVanced by this tgeney for the above purpcsee are
0" within the meaning of the Coeptroller General's
b. To the beat of our knowledge, the p
fess for persons sitherissd to travel on en
neither been covered eaifieaUj by the no
11 Aerob 1952, by a decision tro the Office e
It is our present practice to allow reiMbureement
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for the costa of tr ks for Indivi or eel to %ravel
on an actual expense bee is since it appeared the intent in yeah asses
wee to cover ell out of pocket expert*.a of the
AC indicatimi in *as above, it is frsqusnU.y nocesi
to carry additional funds which he ney or mar no
these funds are for possible edditional travel others are
sible entertatment, purchases of Information or operational payments
The exact total to be expended cennot alweys be anticipated. Frequently
intended leres.soale operations do not develop. Thus the individual is
in the position of having expended sums for operationel purposes for
whieh he son immure no reimbursement. It appears that this avenge
mieht well be considered developmental or exploratory in it. nature and
thus be considered as reimbursable
General 1$ e opinion relat
itiee from country to country wry, as
of the trip, end in twee case* fundi are
carried as ::400hterte Cheeks, cortitiod checks1
riders.
juotification to
ther transportation or
nod reimbursement on
b.
travelers
traveling
attempt be AAd
IP3I is the retabursetunt or the coSt of
s likewise barred for persons
f ee, it is recommended that no
a for aymente greedy made.)
ds mey lmbureement be made for the cost
-seeks/ If 'a! shove is not appmved, may reini
of fees for checks purehased solely for
25X1 A9a
trtS
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Timet